Alkanes: Properties, Formulas, and Industrial Applications

Alkanes

(CnH2n+2)

1. What are alkanes?
Alkanes are a family of hydrocarbons that are composed of only hydrogen and carbon atoms, and they are known as saturated hydrocarbons since they are bonded only by single covalent bonds.

2. What is the general formula for alkanes?
The general formula for alkanes is CnH2n+2 where n is the number of carbon atoms present.

3. Give an example of an alkane.
Methane (CH4) is the simplest alkane.

4. What is the boiling point trend for alkanes?
The boiling point of alkanes generally increases with increasing molecular weight or increasing number of carbon atoms. This is due to the increase in the strength of intermolecular forces of attraction between molecules.

5. How are alkanes prepared?
Alkanes can be prepared in the laboratory by the reduction of alkyl halides (RX) with sodium metal (Na) or lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4). They can also be obtained from the fractional distillation of petroleum, which is a mixture of hydrocarbons.

6. What is the main use of alkanes?
Alkanes have various industrial applications, including as fuel for combustion engines, as a feedstock for the production of plastics and chemicals, and as a heating or cooling agent in refrigeration systems. They are also used in the production of synthetic rubber, lubricants, and solvents.

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